Is This the First “Super” Hiking Shoe?

The term “super shoe” has taken over the running world in a few short years. But what exactly does it mean? Recently, we dedicated an entire episode of our Know Your Stuff Podcast to discussing what makes a shoe “super.”

The short answer is this: two key design elements typically separate super shoes from their “ordinary” counterparts. These elements were first popularized by the revolutionary Nike Vaporfly 4% in 2017 and are widely credited with changing running forever. 

Now, with the introduction of Merrell’s new SpeedARC Surge BOA, it appears that the super shoe blueprint is headed for the hiking shoe market next. 

What Sets Super Shoes Apart?

Merrell

The first design distinction is evident to any onlooker – a thick stack of advanced foam that offers superior energy return compared to the traditional EVA found in most sneakers. 

The second defining feature of super shoes is a carbon fiber plate (or, in some cases, rods) sandwiched in the midsole, which adds rigidity and strength to counterbalance the shoe’s wobbly layers of cushy foam.

Given the immediate and indisputable impact that super shoes have had in helping long-distance runners win races and break long-standing records, it’s no surprise that super shoe design quickly bled into parallel sports like trail running.  And we’ve been waiting to see where the design trend might go next.

It’s the Most-Hyped Merrell Shoe We Can Ever Remember

Merrell

Over the last 40 years, Merrell has introduced several iconic shoes, including the Moab—widely considered the best budget hiking boot on the market—and one of the most recognizable dad shoes of all time, the Jungle Moc. 

And yet, we’ve never seen a Merrell shoe receive as much hype as the SpeedARC Surge BOA. Time Magazine went as far as to name the SpeedARC Surge BOA one of the best inventions of 2024, even though it didn’t officially launch last year. The shoe also won an ISPO Award in 2024, which is one the highest honors an outdoor product can receive from the European market. 

Merrell has helped fan the hype by publishing an early teaser page that called the shoe the brand’s “most innovative and athletic fast hiking sneaker” and asked users to submit an email address to find out more about the upcoming release. 

Its Core Innovation Is a Riff On the Super Shoe Blueprint

Merrell

So, what’s fueling the hyperbole around the SpeedARC Surge BOA?Merrell’s press release hones in on two details that should sound very familiar by now: a new midsole plate wedged between thick layers of advanced foam, which Merrell calls the SpeedARC platform.

The new “nitrogen-injected supercritical foam,” dubbed FloatPro+ SC, builds on the original FloatPro foam currently found on a wide range of Merrell shoes. The SpeedARC Surge BOA specifically features two doubled-up midsole layers of it. Not surprisingly, the new foam is said to offer the same energy return efficiency benefits as other advanced foams found in super shoes. In practical terms, this means hikers wearing the SpeedARC Surge BOA should expect to lose less energy with each step compared to other hiking shoes. 

Merrell

The SpeedARC Surge BOA’s Flexplate differs from the plates found in super shoes, though, given that it’s made of nylon instead of carbon fiber. 

This particular plate component also technically isn’t new. It actually debuted on Merrell’s ISPO award-winning MTL Skyfire 2 trail runner, launched in early 2023, which was then touted as the “lightest plated trail running shoe on the market.” Still, repositioning the plate layer between new layers of advanced foam should translate into a significantly different feel for wearers. 

It Also Another Example of Two Growing Performance Footwear Trends

Merrell

As counterintuitive as it may seem, traditional shoelaces may soon disappear from bleeding-edge performance footwear. 

Just last year, Swiss running shoe brand On made headlines with its laceless Cloudboom Strike LS, which made its secretive debut on the feet of two-time Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri while running and eventually winning the 2024 Boston Marathon. 

And the outdoor footwear industry has a decades-long track record of embracing alternative lacing systems. 

Merrell

The SpeedARC Surge BOA is far from the first outdoor product—let alone the first hiking shoe—to feature Colorado-based BOA’s patented performance fit system. 

This system first appeared in snowboarding boots in 2001 and has since been incorporated into all manner of outdoor and active footwear products, as well as other items like braces and fishing gear. 

For those unfamiliar with it, the system generally consists of a small puck-shaped rotating dial attached to strong and lightweight laces threaded through lace guides and is dead simple to operate. Pushing in on the dial and twisting it clockwise tightens the laces while turning it in the opposite direction will loosen them. 

The SpeedARC Surge BOA will also share another unfortunate characteristic with traditional super shoes—a super premium price tag. 

Merrell

According to Merrell, the sneaker will cost $290. Based on my brief scanning, the SpeedARC Surge BOA is set to be the most expensive shoe listed on Merrell’s website. 

For perspective’s sake, that’s also $100 more than Merrell’s popular Moab Speed line and $80 more than the advanced MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx, which sports an older generation of Merrell’s FloatPro foam. It’s even $50 more than the unique Agility Peak 5 GORE TEX Zip Off 1TRL, which functions as two shoes in one. 

The SpeedARC Surge BOA’s price tag likewise puts it above the cost of other premier super-running shoes on the market, such as Nike’s Alphafly 3 and On’s CloudBoom Echo 3.

Gear Junkie’s early review, interestingly enough, suggests that the SpeedARC Surge BOA is very comfortable, although somewhat ironically, not great for outdoor running and faster movement. 

We’ll reserve final judgment, though, until we can conduct our own testing to determine whether the advanced hiking shoe can justify its cost, especially given that it’s not waterproof and lacks expensive materials like carbon fiber. 

Merrell says the SpeedARC Surge BOA will be available in both men’s and women’s versions starting January 7th, 2025.

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